QUEBEC — A treatment against influenza, oseltamivir, will be available free of charge in the coming days in Quebec, according to what the Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, announced on Tuesday.
This drug, also known under the Tamiflu brand, is primarily intended for people who are at risk of complications that may lead to medical consultations or hospitalizations. It is available in all pharmacies, on prescription from the pharmacist, doctor or specialist nurse practitioner (NP).
To access it, anyone with flu-like symptoms must first quickly pass a rapid antigen detection test, available free of charge at pharmacies, to eliminate the possibility of a COVID-19 infection.
If the result is negative for this rapid test, the person must quickly make an appointment at a designated screening center to take a more sensitive COVID-19 test than the previous one, as well as an influenza detection test. If the test indicates that the person has influenza or COVID-19, it is necessary for them to consult a health professional quickly to check if they can receive the appropriate medication, in order to reduce the risk of complications.
This professional will then determine if the person is eligible to receive antiviral medication to treat their flu or COVID-19.
Minister Dubé said in a statement that expanding access to influenza treatment offers hope of reducing some medical consultations and hospitalizations.